Media coverage of MGSM Janta College, Kartarpur Punjab, Punjab

Cultural treat at Kartarpur

It was a treat for culture aficionados at the All-India Folk Art Contests held at MGSM Janta College, Kartarpur. A host of cultural events, including folk songs, marriage songs (suhag, sithanian and ghorian), dhadi, var gayen and folk dance, were organised there by the Indian Cultural Association recently. Right from vibrant bhangra to rhythmical ludi from Himachal Pradesh and colourful Rajasthani dance, the cultural rendezvous was a peep into the cultural diversity of northern India.

More than 1500 participants from 20 colleges of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi took part in the programme that has been organised annually without break for the past 23 years. There were some interesting moments when classical music expert Sant Jagdish "Rafi" from Khanna rendered shabad in his mesmerising style.

However, some of the cultural items could not be presented, as rain played the spoilsport. The rain, however, failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants, who performed their parts with verve.

200 sportspersons honoured

Five principals of colleges who contributed maximum for university winning the coveted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy and more than 200 outstanding sportspersons for the year 1999-2000, including all round all-India inter-university best athlete Shinder Pal, were honoured with cash award, track suits and blazers here.

The “B” Division overall general championship trophy was awarded to Amardeep Singh Shergill College, Mukandpur, with 25 points, the runners-up trophy was received by the MGSM Janta College, Kartarpur, with 13 points, while Babu Budha College, Bir Singh, got the third position with 11 points.

The “B” Division overall general championship trophy was annexed by Shahzada Nand College for Girls, Amritsar, SH KMV College for Girls, Kala Sangian; lifted the runners-up trophy and Bebe Nanki Khalsa College for Girls, Dhariwal, got third position.

AJAI LAMBA, J (Oral)
Learned counsel contends that the petitioner is entitled to release of grant-in-aid.

The same, however, is not being released and therefore, the petitioner-College is not in a position to pay the salaries.

In this regard, learned counsel has relied on the decision dated 21.3.2009 of this Court in Civil Writ Petition No.4464 of 2009 titled ‘BLM Girls College, Arya Samaj, Nawanshahr vs. State of Punjab and Others’.

Notice of motion.
Mr. Anil Sharma, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, on the asking of the Court accepts notice. Copy of the petition has been handed over.

Learned counsel for the respondents has not been able to dispute that the grant-in-aid is required to be released in terms of judgment relied upon on behalf of the petitioner.

In the case of BLM Girls College, Arya Samaj, Nawanshahr (supra), this Court, while relying on judgment dated 18.12.2007 in C.W.P. No.14340 of 2006, titled `Arya College, Ludhiana Vs. State of Punjab and Others’ and decision dated 24.4.2008 rendered in Civil Writ Petition No.5393 of 2008, titled ‘Ramgaria College of Education, Phagwara vs. State of Punjab and Others’, has held:-

“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case; in terms of judgment rendered in Arya College’s
case (supra) and decision rendered in C.W.P. No.5393 of 2008, decided on 24.4.2008, in case titled ‘Ramgaria College of Education, Phagwara vs. State of Punjab and others’, it is directed that the respondents shall pay 85% of the grant-in-aid due to the petitioner within a period of 3 months after clearance of objections by the petitioner. So far as balance 15% of the amount of grant-in-aid is
concerned, the petitioner may submit separate representations to the respondents.

In Ramgaria College of Education, Phagwara (supra), the following has been held by the Division Bench of this Court:-

Learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on the judgments State of Maharashtra versus
Manubhai Pragali Vashi and Others, 1995(5) Supreme Court Cases 730, Government of A.P. and Others
versus G.V.K.Girls High School, 2000(8) Supreme Court Cases 370, and State of Haryana and others
versus Babita Yadav and Others, 2004(13) Supreme Court Cases 734, to contend that the paucity of funds or financial contributions cannot be taken a ground to deny the grant-in-aid to Government recognized private colleges while extending such facility to recognized private colleges by the State.

After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered view that the case of the petitioner is squarely covered by the decision in the State of Maharashtra versus Manubhai Pragali Vashi and Others, Government of A.P. and Others versus G.V.K.Girls High School and State of Haryana and others versus Babita Yadav and Others (supra). The State Government cannot take up the ground that due to paucity of funds, it is unable to give grant-in-aid to the colleges.

In view of the above, we hold that the respondents shall pay 85% of the grant-in-aid as claimed by the
petitioner within a period of three months, after the clearance of the objections by the petitioner. The
petitioner shall try to clear all the objections raised by the State Government within a period of one month from today. As far as balance 10% of the amount of grant-in-aid case is concerned, the petitioner may submit a separate representation to the respondents. The respondents are also further directed to release the grant-in-aid to the petitioner in future also in time.

In another judgment dated 19.2.2008 rendered by a Division Bench of this Court in Civil Writ Petition No.3191 of 2007 titled `The Managing Committee, Guru Gobind Singh College, Saghera, Barnala, District Sangrur vs. State of Punjab and Another’, similar view has been taken as in the case of Ramgaria College of Education, Phagwara (supra).

It has been brought out that State of Punjab filed a Special Leave Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India directed against the judgment rendered in Civil Writ Petition No.3191 of 2007. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India while dealing with SLP No.15798 of 2008 dismissed the petition on 8.12.2008 by passing the following order:-

Delay condoned.
We find no merit in this petition which is accordingly dismissed. However, two months time is granted to the petitioner State of Punjab to release the amount which is due and payable to the respondent College subject to removal of objections pointed by the High Court in the impugned order.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case; in terms of judgments to which reference has been made hereinabove, it is directed that the respondents shall pay 85% of the grant-in-aid due to the petitioner within a period of 4 months after clearance of objections by the petitioner. So far as balance 15% of the amount of grant-in-aid due is concerned, the petitioner may submit separate representations to the respondents.

HEMANT GUPTA, J (ORAL)
Mr. Sahu states that the balance 15% of the grant-in-aid shall be released within a period of four weeks.In view of the said fact, no further orders are called for in the present contempt petition. Consequently, the same is dismissed as having been rendered infrucutous.